Page 41 of Wish You Would

Turning away from the bar to grab the bottle of vodka for her drink, I gave myself a mental shake. Get your shit together, Georgia, I thought. Give the hot woman your number.

But the moment I turned around, I caught a glimpse Parker in the crowd. She and Anya had squeezed into a two-top in the middle of the bar, where both faced forward, watching the band play.

Watching Halle play.

My mouth went dry.

“You good?”

I started, nearly dropping the vodka. “Shit, dude,” I growled at Dante, who’d sidled up next to me. “You startled me.”

“I startled you,” he repeated, brows lifted, “in a loud-ass bar filled with people and a live band.”

“Shut up.” I turned away from him, ignoring his chuckle. “Sorry about that,” I said to the woman, who was still smiling coyly. “One Sex on the Beach, coming right up.”

She leaned against the bar, pushing a gorgeous set of breasts together. “What about the other?”

I let myself look her over, from her pink-glossed lips to her decadent cleavage. Then, I spared one last glance over her shoulder to where Parker watched the band, rapt.

Just do it, I thought, fingers hovering over the clicking end of my pen. Parker’s not into you. Time to move on.

But even as I thought it, Parker’s voice echoed in my mind. You want me. And, fuck. I couldn’t do it.

Giving the woman my most apologetic smile, I said, “Sorry. I’m not dating right now.”

A smile tilted her lips as she took her drink. “Let me know if that changes,” she replied with a lingering look before she vanished into the crowd. I spared one more glance at Parker, kicking myself for being such a hopeless dumbass. Then, I turned to the next customer in line.

“Hey, there,” I said. “What can I get for you?”

And so it went.

About an hour later, once Patti Mayonnaise had finished their set and things had stabilized a bit, I tapped Dante on the shoulder.

“Hey,” I said. “I’m gonna take a quick break. Hydrate and pee and whatnot. You gonna be okay?”

Dante waved me away. “Get out of here, girl. I got this.”

I paused and took inventory before I stepped away. He did, indeed, seem to have it. Slowly, I nodded. “’Kay. I’ll be right back.”

I made a beeline for the bathroom and, when I finished, headed toward the office for a couple minutes of quiet before jumping back into the mix. I was intercepted, however, by the very source of my distraction all night.

“Hey.” Parker fell into step beside me. “Busy night.”

I glanced over. Her cheeks were flushed pink and she’d pulled her hair into a messy topknot. The sweater she’d been wearing earlier was gone, the plain black tank top she’d had beneath it a sharp contrast to her creamy skin.

My fingertips tingled with recollection of how soft that skin was.

Clearing my throat, I nodded. “Just the way we like it.” I paused at the employees-only door. “Sorry, I’m just about to…”

“Oh.” She shook her head. “Sorry, yeah. Sure. I don’t mean to interrupt. I…” Pushing her hands into the pockets of her jeans, she rocked back on her heels. “I need a favor.”

“Um.” I looked from her to the door I still had my hand on. Tell her you can talk about it later, my mind directed. Tell her you’re busy.

But when I looked at her again, her wide blue eyes frantic on my face, my insides softened and I caved. “What’s up?”

18

18 PARKER

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